Electric lock



(No Model.) I 4 Sheets Sheet.2..

M. I. FLOWERS.

ELEGTRIO LOOK.

No. 363,623. Patented May 24, 1887.

(No Mod eL) M I FLOWERS '4 sheets-Sheets.

I ELEGTRIG LOOK. I No.363,6Z3. Patented May 24,1887.

Z. A, #4 i 3144: auto 2 (No Model.)

M. LPLOWERS.

ELEG'IRIG LOCK.

No. seams.

Patented May 24, 1887 "a Mi? IT bl I\ N. PETERSv mwmm mr, Widiuflnn, D, C.

- 5 looks.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MALON l. FLOWVERS, OE SPRINGFIELD, ASSIGNOR OF/ ONE-HALF TO JAMFS E. JONES, OF GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI.

ELECTRlC- LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,623, dated May 24, 1887.

Application filed November 18, l'r8ti. Serial No. 219,270. (Nomodehl To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MALON I. FLoWERs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing atSpringtield, in the county of Greene 5 and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Electrical Sate-Lock, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to improvements I in electric lock mechanism,wherein electricity I is used as a motive power for withdrawing the locking-bolts and for releasing the retaining mechanism when it is desired to release the bolt mechanism and force the bolts in their keepers.

( The objects of my invention are, first, to construct a'safe door-provided with a series of stationary electrical conductors designated in circuitby figures or dials;'(the result of the construction, as hereinafter stated, is to pre vent access to the safe by blasting;) second,

' to provide a lock or looks for safe-doors that may be operated with certainty on any combinations and controlled by the strokes of the armatures; third, to provide improved electrical mechanical means for operating the mechanism which holds the'bolts of the locks in an unlocked position.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the novel construction, application,

c arrangement, and combination of the parts,

and specially as pointed out in the claims made hereto, as required by the statute.

I have fully illustrated my improvements in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and wherein like elements or parts arc'designated by the same notations.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view in elevation of the safe-door having dials attached thereto, with make-and-break arms pivoted on ov the dials and showing the projecting ends of the circuit wires. Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional view of a safe-door, showing two of the circuit-wires in position and the clay-bed in the dials. Fig. 3 is a view of one of the Fig. 4 is a view of the looks as arrangedin the door, the electrical appliances being removed. Fig. 5 is a similar view with the electrical appliances shown. Fig. 6 is a view of the circuit-wires leading from the dials to the magnet, the casing or flanges of which the bolts of the lock project when the safe is locked. These bolt-holes, of course,

may be more or less in number, according to the number of locks used to the door.

The letter B designates the safe-door, sup ported on one side by strong hinges and provided with boltwa'ys 26, registering with the bolt-holes in the frame of the door. The door is formed with flanges a, and provided with a substantial lining-plate, 12, secured in place by any proper means. The chamber thus formed within the frame of the door and its plates or casings constitutes the compartment within which'are disposed the magnets and lock mechanism, as shown in Fig. 4 of. the drawings, the inner plate of the door being removed. The dials are chambered out, as at 27, and in these chambers is packed a quantity of fireclay, 28, or similar substance, the purpose being to afford a limited displacement of the projecting wires in the plastic material when they are adjusted to the apertures in the dials, as the dials may be fixed in position before the plastic material entirely hardens.

The letter O designates the upper dial. This has a series of numbers or characters, 29, ar-

ranged on its outer face, which correspond to the number of the respective circuit-wires projected through the apertures in its face. The lower dial, D, is similar in construction to the dial 0, having numerals or characters 30 on its face, and both dials are punctured with a series of small circuit-wire holes 31, and corresponding therewith. provided with similar wire-holes,c. On the dial G are pivoted the metal hands 32, supported 1 on an insulated pivot, 33, these bands serving to make a circuit when the ends areplaced on the ends of the wires, and by releasing onehand .from contactfwhile the other may be held in contact the circuit of the controlling magnet is broken.: On the dial D are pivoted the hands 34, insulated at their pivotal.

The safe-door is also other.

connections 35, so as to be independent of each other, or the hands themselves maybe made of non-conducting material. The ends of these hands are provided with set-pins d, to which the wires f f, leading from the batt'ery are attached, and the inner ends of these setpins being placed on the projecting ends of the circuit-wires in the dial, the circuit is established, which can be directed to a magnet on the inside, as will be hereinafter more specifically stated.

The locking mechanism may consist of one, two, or morelocks. Thesein their mechanical construction are identical. The arrangement of more than two, and the application of the appliances, and the slight changes consequent on multiplication of locks to a safe, will be readily perceived by those skilled in the art, and I will therefore give herein, specifically, the construction of one lock,and state in a more general summary the construction of the It is further mentioned that the safedoor may be formed to receive the brackets and elements which support the locks; but I have represented the looks as being fixed to a lock-plate adapted to be secured on the door. Accordingly, the letter E designates thelockplates, which are of such substantial construction as may fully meet the requirements. They are provided with screw-holes or other means for fastening them in position. Formed on or secured to this plate is a bracket, having projected therefrom an arbor, 37 on which is supported the bolt-wheel 38. This wheel is provided with a spring, 39, arranged and applied to shoot the boltof the lockinto the boltholes of the safe-frame and lock the safe, and thus leave it stand locked with the bolts held in that position by the force of the spring. The edge of this wheel is formed with notches or ratchets 40, with which engagethe movingpawl and the holding-pawl, hereinafter mentioned. On the hub of bolt-wheel 38 is secured apin, 41, projected at right angles to the face of the wheel. This pin sets in a slot inxthe slide of the bolt, and by it the bolt is shot forward and withdrawn. In the rim of the wheel is a number of holes, 42, which are'intended to take a setting-pin, 43. These holes 42 and pin 43 are the means by which the combination is set to accord with designations on the dials. The set-pin being fixed in a selected hole, the number of ratchet between that and the limit of the throw of the wheel until the bolt is withdrawn represents the strokes of the armature necessary to unbolt the lock. To the lock-plate is fixed asecond bracket or seat, 6, on which is secured a keeper, 44, in which is arranged the bolt-slide 45. This bolt-slide is formed with a broadened rear part that is provided with a vertical slot, 46, and the forward portion is extended substantially as seen. So formed, the boltslide is arranged with the front and narrow .part under the flanges or staples of the keepers 44, and the plate 45 over the pin 41 on the bolt-wheel. To the bolt-slide is secured the bolt 47, of such size and length as may be required. As a means for holding the wheel in any turned position, a spring-pawl, 48, is secured on the plate, arranged so that it engages the teeth of the wheel.

The letter F designates a ratchet-wheel supported on a plate having an arborprojected therefrom, and on the wheel is fixed a pin, 49, to set in a slot in the sliding bar. The numerals 50 designate keepers secured in the doorplate, and in these keepers are arranged ends of the sliding bar 51. This bar is formed with a vertical slot, 52, in the middle andcnlarged part, in which pin 49 sets, and by which, when the wheel is rotated, the bar is reciprocated. In the arrangement of two looks as demonstrated in thedrawings two angular levers, 53, are hung on pivots g on the plates, and have slots h, the ends of which slots are arranged over pins h in the plate of the sliding bar. In the angular arm of the levers, at the face ends thereof, are pins 54, projected outwardly and arranged to press on the pawls of the armature and the retaining-pawls of the bolt-wheels of the locks. When the ratchet-wheel F is rotated, the angular arms of the levers are raised and lowered, and the pins, engaging with the pawls, lift or press them from engagement'with the ratchets and leave the bolt-wheels free to be rotated by the springs, and bolts shotforward. Acontinuation of movement of wheel F restoresthe levers to a position which permits the pawls to engage the ratchets and so remain until again withdrawn. A pawl, 55, is secured and arranged to engage the ratchets on the wheel F and hold it in any position and from being turned by the weight of the levers.

The foregoing description has relation to the mechanism of the locks and that which makes them operative.

I now proceed to describe the electrical apparatuses and appliance which transmit through the mechanism the required movements; and reference being had thereto, the letter G designates the eleetro-magnet through which the circuit is passed which operates the central ratchet-wheel and its combined elements. The circuit in this instance is noted as transmitted through the'small circuit-wires Nos. 1 and 24 of the series, and is made by setting one hand of the lower dial, D, on the projecting end of the wire numbered 1 on the'dial and pressing the other on the wire numbered 24 and setting the hands on the dial G to correspond and lifting and pressing one of the hands on dial G from the pin, which intermediate movement makes and breaks the circuit, and thus magnetizes and demagnetizes the armature, now about to be described. This armature is designated by the numeral 56, and is pivotally supported at 57 and the movements limited by means of a keeper, 58, between the arms of which the armature is free to vibrate. On the free end of the armature is secured an arm terwith the teeth of the wheel F, and so that it will pull the wheel around when the armature is attracted, and is thus drawn on the poles of the magnet. "To insure thereturn of the armature and-the engagement of the pawl 59 withthe teeth in succession, Iarrange a spring, 60, substantially as shown, to pull it back, and while the returnstroke of the pawl is made the wheel isheld by the lower pawl, 55. It will thus be seen that by the intermittent character of the current the armature is caused to vibrate, and by its pawl turn the wheel, slide the sliding bar, and .operate the pawl-levers,

and finally thus release the bolt-wheels, when the spring sends the boltforward in the keepers or bolt-holes.

It will be seen that the circuit is made by connecting twosmall wires of the lower dial to the wires h and h respectively, arranged on the casing of the door,which latter wires have communication with the opposite poles of the magnet. In this case wire 24 is connected to the mechanism through its armature. of this magnet may be changed to emanate wire h, which is carried up the sideof the door and connected to the wire 24 of the upper dial,

thencethrough the hands of thatdial,one being on 24 and the other on 1, thence through the wire 1, connected to the wire h,which leads to the magnet and completes the circuit. These connections may be varied and changed by making the connections with the main wires through diflerentpegs or binding-posts. Main through any combination of the dials desired. In the present example the battery-wires are connected and the hands of the dial set on numbers 6 and 17' of the dials, and the circuit is completed, say,'from'dial-wire 17 to the switch-post of that number, thence through connections to the main wire it, thence to connection-with the magnet from the other pole of the battery through wire. 6, thence by conncction to the switch-post of thatwire to wire k,-thence to switch post of upperdial-wire across the hands of the dial,*thence bythe .wire of the proper number, thence to wire If,

and thence to magnet. This magnet Hcontrols armature 61, pivot-ally supported on brackets, as seen in the drawl ngs, and having keeper 62,

between the arms of which its movements are limited. To the free end of the armature is pivotally attached an arm terminating in a pawl, 63, which is formed with an extension which rests against a pin, 54, of lever 53, and to assure the return of the armature when the circuit is broken I fix a returning-spring, 64,

in the lock,which pulls the armature fromthe .mounted inthe chamber of the door, and is lock.

wires not specifically referred to hereinbefore, -73 unites dial-wire 24 with main wire k 74 363,623 g ts magnet when the break of the circuit takes place. The bolt-wheel is moved by. the forward movement of the armature when attracted, and the wheel is held against return when the circuit is broken and the armaturepawl is drawn back for engagement with another ratchet by the retaining-pawl heretofore mentioned. 1 g

The letter I designates the magnet disposed in the circuit of the upperlock and intended to control the armature 65, which is pivotally limited in its movements by keeper 66, be tween the armsof which it moves. To the free end of this armature is pivoted a pawlarm terminating iuapawl, 67, havingaspring to hold it in the ratchets of the bolt-wheel,and the pawl has an arm, 69, which rests against the pin of the lever pf the releasing mechanism. To draw the armature back vfrom contact when the circuit is broken, I provide a spring, 7 O,'similar to that described as attached for the same purpose to the other lock. The

circuit of this look is through the dial-wires' from battery-wires, in this instance 3 and 19, and connections, to wit, from 19 to wire m thence to 3, thence to magnet, from 3 to wire m, thence to 3 of upper dial, thence through the hands of upper dial to wire 19, thence to wire at to magnet. The operation is identi cal to that described as applying to the other In Fig. 6 of the drawings I have demonstrated the different circuits of the series employed in operating the locks. It will be ob- TOO served from this figure that independent cir=-- cuits are provided for each magnet, and hence the locks may be operated independently, as I05 may also the releasing mechanism. The courses of the several circuits may be indicated by noting that followed by one-for in stance, that formed by the dial-wires 6 and 17. The circuit is established from one battery wire, say that connected with the positive pole, through one hand, 34, to the dial-w-ire 17, terminating in a binding-post, 71; thence through connecting-wire 75 to the main wire it, placed in the flange of the door, which wire passes to. and around magnet H. Continuing, the circuit passes by wire lettered k which is united by connecting'wire and binding-post with the upper dial-wire, 17; thence through the hands 32 the current passes to upper dialwire, 6, through proper connections to main wire kin the door-flange; thence,throughconnecting-wire 76 and binding-post, it reaches lower dial-wire, 6, whence it passes through hand 34-, connected therewith, to the negative battery -wire, and thus completes the circuit. The several binding-posts for all the lower dial-wires are indicated by the one number, 71, while the binding-posts for the upper dialwires are indicated by 72. Of the connectingunites dial-wire 19 with wire 3 in the doorflange, 77 unites main wire m with dial-wire 3, and 78 unites wire h with dial-wire 1. It is seen that the main wires, those placed in the flanges of the door and bearing reference-letters, are disconnected at the middle of the up 5 per and the lower flanges of the door, and that the circuit is completed in each instance by the hands on the upper dial. The dials are fixed rigid in position, and the combinations are selected arbitrarily, to which selection the IO pins of the bolt-wheels are adjusted, as heretot'ore stated. I p

What I claim as myinvention, and desire to. secure by Letters Patent, is- 4 1. The combination, with an electric generator, a lock, and mechanism for moving the lock, ofa magnet arranged in a single stationary circuit-wire and provided with an armature for actuating said lock-moving mechanism, a series of circuit-wires, any two ofwhich may be connected with the stationary circuitmake the circuit, a second and independent series of circuit-wires, any two of which can be used to make the circuit, a magnet interposed in either of the circuits, an armature controlled by said magnet, means for making and breaking the circuit on the second series of circuit-wires, and means for pulling back the armature from contact when the circuit is broken, said armature being formed to engage with the lock mechanism and withdraw the bolt, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with an electric gener- 'ator, a lock, and mechanism for moving the lock, of a magnet for actuating said lock-moving mechanism, a series of circuit-wires, any two ofwhich may be connected with said magnet,- and two movable conducting-hands adapted to unite the wires in connection with the magnet and to make and break the circuit, substantially as dcseri bed.

4. As a means for transmitting a current of electricity to the lock mechanism of a safe, a series of conductors fitted through apertures in a safedoor, and their projecting ends held rigidly in a plate on the outer face of the door, anda second series of conductors fitted through apertures in the safe-door, and having means for making and breaking the circuit between the projecting ends of the second series, substantially as described.

5. The combination, substantially as herein set forth, with the door. and its looks, of the electric circuits consisting of the dial-wires of the upper andlower dials, the intermediate circuit-wire, in connection with the magnetin the door, and the releasing mechanismhaving pawl-levers engaging the bolt-wheels, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with an electric generator anda safe-door, of a series Ofconductingwires, any two of which may beused, a conductor in a safe-door leading to a magnet, a second series of conducting-wires in the door, any two of which may be used, a conductor from one of the wires of the first-named series to a wire of the second series, aconductor connecting the points of any two of the second series, and a conductor leading from the second series to the magnet, substantially as described.

7'. The eombinatiomwith a safe, and for the purpose of operating the lock mechanism, of a series of electrical conductors anchored in consecutive arrangement in and through the door of the safe, and their inner ends connected to independent binding-posts, a number of independent conductors laid within the door, and eachhaving a magnet interposed therein, and means for making independent connections to the binding-posts of the condnetors laid within the door, a second series of conductors anchored in consecutive arrangementin and through the door, and their inner ends connected to independent binding posts, and means for detachably connecting any two of said binding-posts to the conductors leading to the magnet, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the ratchet-wheel moving a safebolt, an electrical circuit, anda magnet havingan armatureformed witha pawlarm, of the releasing mechanism, consisting of the ratchet-wheel F, the sliding'bir 51, reciprocated by the rotation of the wheel, and lever 53,arranged to release the holding mechanism of the lock, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the lock mechanism of a safe, said lock carrying aratchetwheel arranged to shoot and. withdraw the bolt, of an electric circuit arranged to be made and broken from the dials on thedoor, and a magnet interposed in said circuit, an armature pivotally mounted to contact with said magnet and formed with a pawl to engage the ratchets on the bolt-wheel, said pawl having an extension at the free end, the releasing mechanism consisting of a ratchet-wheel, F, the sliding bar 51, and lever 53, having'pin to engage the armature-pawl and the retainingpawl of the ratchet-wheel of thebolt mechanism, substantially as described.

10. The combination, in an electrical lock mechanism, of the electrical motor element, a safe-door formed with anupper and alower series of apertures to receive conductors, dials fixed on the doors and provided with apertures to receive the respective conductors of its series,

electrical conductors laid in said holes of each series and through the dials, with their ends projecting and their inner ends secured to binding-posts on the inner side of the door, a series of conductors laid within the door and adapted to be independently,connected to any .of said dial-wires, magnets disposed in each of the circuits series within the door,loek mechanisms adapted to be moved by the'currents through the action of armatures of the magnets, and a releasing mechanism, also adapted to be moved by a current established through wires of both series of dial-wires,substantia1ly as described.

11. The safe-do0r formed with two series of small apertures, chambered dials rigidly fixed to the door and formed with apertures, and having a plastic material packed in the chambers thereof, in combination with a series of elactrical conductors laid in said apertures of each series, and extended within the safedoor and connected to bindingposts, and pivotal arms on said dials, whereby independent circuits may be made with a series of wires and magnets located within the safe-door,substantially as described.

wheel having ratchets on its edge and turned 12. The combination,with the door of asafe and the lock mechanism located within the 20 door, of a series of circuit-wires fixed in the safedoor and numbered by characters, a boltby the vibrations of a pawl-armature on a magnet in the circuit, and said bolt-wheel 25 having a series of pin-holes to receive a setting-pin,whereby the number of movements of the armature to release the bolt may be indicated and the movements of the wheel limited, 

